Mānuka honey, made exclusively from mānuka flowers, is a unique tasting honey with strong antibacterial properties. In a world where antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are becoming more the norm, mānuka honey could have a therapeutic role to play, so safeguarding its authenticity has never been more important. New Zealand’s Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association™ and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are two key authorities for authentic mānuka .

Potency and Grading of Mānuka Honey

Flora Mānuka Honey is licensed by the Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association™, an internationally recognized, third-party that ensures identity, potency and quality. UMF™ graded products have been tested for three signature compounds:

• Leptosperin,
• DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) and
• Methylglyoxal (MGO)

The higher the UMF™ number on the product, the higher the concentration of these compounds. None of these compounds on their own, nor rating systems based on pollen count, are enough to guarantee authenticity.

Flora Mānuka Honey is also measured and graded according to the honey’s MGO content. Flora offers a variety of strengths ranging from 30+ MGO all the way up to 515+ MGO. This is a measurement of the amount of MGO in the honey – so 515+ means there’s a minimum of 515 mg of MGO per kg of honey.

New Zealand mānuka honey is also authenticated through lab testing under New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Mānuka honey must pass 5 tests to be considered authentic and 100% pure.

Location, Location, Location

Flora’s line of mānuka honey is sourced by a 100 % Maori-owned company based in Whakatane, New Zealand. The honey is sourced from several New Zealand North Island locations:

• Mount Tarawera/Lake Rotomahana,
• Central Plateau,
• East Cape
• and Northland areas.

How is the Honey Made?

The honey is unpasteurized, filtered, creamed, stirred at low temperatures (50-70 degrees C) for several days, then aged to increase the MGO content to a standardized amount. The honey is graded according to its UMF number and MGO content.

Traceability and Authenticity

Flora Mānuka Honey, as an additional layer of transparency, offers a traceability system. Using a smart phone, consumers can scan the label to learn more about their jar of honey:

• Batch specific details
• Specific region details
• Lab test results,
• UMF certification

This, along with the UMF™ license, helps ensure confidence the consumer is getting authentic mānuka honey and not adulterated or counterfeit honey.

While it doesn’t take much to just enjoy mānuka honey straight off the spoon, there are also plenty of creative ways to incorporate it into food. Here’s just one idea from the Recipe section of the Flora website.

Manuka Honey Overnight Oats

Sweet, citrusy, healing oats that you can pack in your bag in five minutes.

Prep time: 5 minutes + overnight
Serves: 2-3 

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cups non-dairy milk
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium sweet potato, baked, skin removed
1 tbsp Flora Mānuka Honey (100+ or 250+ MGO strength)
Chopped assorted citrus for garnish 

Method:

1. Puree sweet potato in a small food processor or with a hand mixer. Add Mānuka honey and puree a bit more until smooth and creamy.
2. Combine rolled oats, non-dairy milk, ground flaxseed, and vanilla in a bowl. Add sweet potato mixture and stir thoroughly. The mixture should have an even consistency.
3. Separate into two glass jars with fitted lids and store in the fridge overnight. In the morning, give it a stir, throw some chopped citrus on top, and take it to go!

Recipe and image courtesy of Lindsay Young, @eatyoungnutrition

About the Author: Flora Health

A privately-owned nutraceutical manufacturer and distributor established in 1965, Flora is known for high quality whole food supplements, full-spectrum botanical extracts, unrefined seed oils, and liquid health tonics. In addition to its Flora brand, Flora also distributes Alaffia, Auromère, BiologicVET, Efamol, Gandalf, and Udo’s Choice.